Injured worker in Sunoco explosion files lawsuit

Seven workers were injured in a flash fire at Sunoco Logistics' Nederland terminal. The men were constructing a cude oil pipeline connection.
are being treated for burns at local and regional hospitals. The facility stores crude oil, natural gas liquids and refined products. Photo taken Saturday, August 13, 2016 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Seven workers were injured in a flash fire at Sunoco Logistics' Nederland terminal. The men were constructing a cude oil pipeline connection.
are being treated for burns at local and regional hospitals. The ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Photo: Kim Brent

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Seven workers were injured in a flash fire at Sunoco Logistics' Nederland terminal. The men were constructing a cude oil pipeline connection.
are being treated for burns at local and regional hospitals. The facility stores crude oil, natural gas liquids and refined products. Photo taken Saturday, August 13, 2016 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Seven workers were injured in a flash fire at Sunoco Logistics' Nederland terminal. The men were constructing a cude oil pipeline connection.
are being treated for burns at local and regional hospitals. The ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Injured worker in Sunoco explosion files lawsuit

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A worker injured in an explosion at a crude oil terminal Friday night in Southeast Texas filed a lawsuit Monday against Sunoco and Carber, accusing the companies of causing the explosion.

Edward Galvan, a welder for L-Con Inc. who remains hospitalized with injuries he sustained during the explosion, was working at the crude oil terminal owned by Sunoco on Friday night in Nederland near Beaumont.

According to the lawsuit filed in Harris County court, Sunoco officials told L-Con workers to "conduct welding operations on two flanges on a closed line at the facility."

The lawsuit said that Sunoco represented that the "line was clean, clear, and ready for work." Galvan and the other workers were instructed to work on a scaffold more than 10 feet above the ground.

As Galvan and the others began to work, pressure began building inside the line. According to the suit, the 30-inch plug designed and installed by Carber failed and was ejected from the line, striking Galvan in the chest and shoulder.

The lawsuit states that crude oil within the line then ignited, causing a flash fire.

Liquid fire covered his face, neck, and upper chest. He managed to tear off several pieces of clothing and then jump off the scaffold. The lawsuit states that if Galvan had not jumped off, he likely would "have been burned alive."

He was flown by Life Flight to Memorial Hermann's burn unit, where he is receiving extensive treatment. Galvan is seeking a lawsuit to "recover for injuries sustained as a result of this incident."